Pharmacist in trouble for depriving policeman of personal liberty, breach of peace

A pharmacist, Akinbobola Kunle, on Friday, appeared before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly depriving a policeman of his personal liberty while on duty.

The accused, 50, a resident of College Road, Ogba area of Lagos, is facing a five-count charge bordering on reckless driving, breach of the peace and deprivation of liberty.

The prosecutor, Sgt. Joseph Ajebe, told the court that the accused committed the offences on Oct. 13 at about 11.10 p.m. at U-Turn, Abule-Egbeda, a Lagos suburb.

He said the accused drove a policeman, Cpl. Adewale Oguntoye, who contravened him in his Hyundai saloon car with registration no. LSD 702 CY from Abule Egba to Ikeja against his will.

Ajebe said the officer, who is attached to Oko-Oba Police Station while on patrol stopped the accused for driving recklessly on a public highway and against the traffic.

“The complainant while trying to contravene him, entered the accused’s car and asked him to proceed to the station at Oko-Oba.

“Kunle, instead drove the police officer  from Abule-Egba to lkeja against his will until after much persuasion before he was brought back to the police station.’’
According to him, the offences contravene Sections 27, 28, 166, 172 and 270 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty.
The accused risks two years in jail on conviction, according to the criminal law.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr Alexander Komolafe, granted the accused bail in the sum of 100,000 with two sureties in like sum.

He said one of the sureties must be a blood relation on grade level 10 and above officer with the Lagos State government.

Komolafe adjourned the case to Dec. 12 for trial.